Automatic product display device



Feb. 23, 1954 R WELLS 7 AUTOMATIC PRODUCT DISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15. 1950 RICHARD D. WELLS ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1954 R WELLS 2,669,790

AUTOMATIC PRODUCT DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD D. WELLS FITTO PNE VS Patented Feb. 23, 1954 AUTOMATIC PRODUCT DISPLAY DEVICE Richard D. Wells, Auburn, Maine, assignor to Bates Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Maine Application December 13, 1950, Serial No. 200,544

Claims.

This invention relates to display devices. More particularly the invention is concerned with automatic display devices adapted to exhibit products at periodic intervals, between which the products may be subjected to certain operations simulating or duplicating the conditions under which the products are normally used.

It frequently happens that new or improved products are developed which afford certain advantages over competing products. In such cases it is advantageous to display the product in a manner which makes apparent to the observer in an incisive manner the improved characteristics of the product.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an animated display device for showing products in a manner which clearly indicates the improved characteristics thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a display device for periodically exposing two or more products to view for comparison for brief intervals, between which intervals the products are subjected to treatment simulating or duplicating that which the products would normally receive.

These and other features and objects of the invention may be attained by providing a display unit comprising, for example, a pair of suitcases disposed side-by-side on a viewing counter and adapted to receive garments to be contrasted or compared. Means are provided for periodically raising the lids of the suit cases and lifting the garments from t e suit-cases so that they become completely unfolded, after which the garments are lowered into the suit-cases and the lids closed. The cycle may be made to repeat itself at any suitable frequency. A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front view in perspective of a display device formed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the unit in operation;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the display device with the back cover removed to show the operating mechanism in elevation, the suit-cases being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram of the control circuit for operating the mechanism of Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is shown'as embodied in a display device including a pair of suit-cases l0 and i! resting side- 2 by-side on the top shelf of a display box I2 which may, if desired, have incorporated on its front surface a sequence of pictures and other matter explaining the significance of the display. Periodically and under the control of mechanism described below, the lids HM and Ha of each of the suit-cases Hi and It open and supporting devices l3 and M which may be in the form of clothing hangers, for example, are carried upwardly for a distance suitable to display a garment full length. After a suitable interval the supporting devices [3 and M are simultaneously lowered so that the garments are placed in the suit-cases in random fashion, and the lids close thereupon to complete the cycle. The garment on one of the supports may be formed of a material which is to be contrasted in appearance or other characteristic to that on the other support. Thus, for example, the garment on the support It may be formed of conventional material and the garment on the support I4 may be formed of a crease-resistant material which may be packed in a suit-case more or less indiscriminately without harmful results.

In order to raise and lower the supports l3 and I4 and to open and close the lids Mia and No in continuous cycles, the driving mechanism as shown in Fig. 3 may be provided. A motor having a pulley i6 is connected by means of the belt ii to a pulley it on the input drive shaft of a step-down gear-box t9, the output shaft of which carries a sprocket 250. This sprocket 2t is connected by means of a chain 21 to a sprocket 22 on a shaft 23 rotatively journalled in bearings M- and 25 rigidly aflixed to guideways 26 and 2! respectivelv. Slidably received in the guideways 26 and 27 are a pair of racks 2 and 29 which are engaged by pinion gears 38 and 3|, respectively, carried by the shaft 23.

Slidably journalled in suitable guide bearings 32 formed on the rack 28 (Fig. 4) is a telescoping shaft 33 carrying at its upper end the supporting device [4. Attached to the lower end of the telescoping shaft 33 at a junction 34 is a flexible cable or tape 35 which passes upwardly to a pulley 35 carried by the movable rack 28 on its upper end. The other end of the cable 35 is attached to a stationary support by any suitable means such as a oleat 36, which may be secured to the floor portion of the display case. It will be apparent that as the rack 28 is raised from its lowered position as shown in Fig. 4 by means of the driving pinion 3B, the telescoping shaft 33 will carry the supporting device It upwardly at twice the rate by virtue of the pulley arrangement described. The supporting device i3 is similiarly mounted on the rack 29.

The under surfaces of the suit-cases l and II and the opposing top surface of the box l2 are formed with enlarged openings which receive the racks 28 and 29 respectively when the latter are raised. Secured: to:the inner'surf'ace ofeach'of the lidsin a track 37" which is adapted to'b'e' engaged by the upper end of the rising telescoping shaft on each of the racks. When the telescoping shafts are extendedv to: full length;v

such as shown in Fig. 2, the suit-case lids are held open, and as the shafts are retracted-thelids are allowed to fall closed.

The operation of the electric motor It to drive the rack assemblies 28 and 2.9fin1their'up and down" movements as described above, is controlled by the electrical system shown schematically'in Fig; 5. Broadly, the motor I is under the control of up control means 38a; and down control means 381), which are connected by a conduit 53 to energize the appropriate motor windings. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the control means are adapted to energize both starting and running windings (not shown) in the motor [5 in the proper sequence.

The timing of the rack movement is under: the control-o1" upper and lower conventional timing or delayed action relays 41a and llb, respectively, and upper and lower" normally closed" limit switches 42a and 421), respectively. The upper limit switch 42a is connected by a conductor: 63! to the supplymain 4'0, and by a-circuit including conductor 4%, electromagnetic coil 45a: in the relay Ma, conductor 43a, conduit 51a including switch 522) of relay 41b, andconductor 58a to the supply main 39'. Actuating'coil led-ofthe up motor'control means" 38a is connected in shunt across the coil 45a by means of'conduit 5%.

In a like manner the lower limit switch 522) is connected to the supply main" 40 by means of a conductor 4% and to the supply main 39 1) means of a circuit including conductor 44b; coil 45b 0f the lower timing relay l l-b, conductondfib,

conduit filbincluding switch 52a of relay 41a, and conductor 48b. Actuatin'g' coil 49b of the down motor control means is connected in shunt across the relay coil 4517- by means of a conduit 5%:

The up and downcontrol means 38a and 38binclude, respectively, switches" 5411, 5417 and 55a, 561) connected inthe'cir'cuits of'con'duit 53 to energize the starting winding (not shown) of the motor for establishing theproper hand of-rotation'. Switches $521,555 are provided for'energizing the running'winding a-ft'er the-*motor has started, all according to well known methods.

Starting switch 5i is' provided in the power main MB, and to operate the device this switch is first closed. It is'assumed 'for'p-urposes of description that the racks arein anintermediate position and moving downwardly. The upper limit switch 42m and lower limit switch Albare closed, as are the appropriate switbhesin the down control means 3 8?). Also closed is" the switch52iz of the uppertiming relay Ma. The switch5'2b of the lower timingrelay 4 lb, and'the up control switches 54a, 55a and 56a'are open.

The switches in the down control means are held closed by' thecoil 4% which is: energized by acircuit includingsupply main 40',- conductor @312, closed lower limit'switch lz-b; conductor l lb, con diuit 501i; conductor: 46h conduit 51b,v including closed-.iswitch; 52a: in: theaupper; timing: relay Ilia;

and conductor 48b to supply main 39. As the rack reaches its lower position, the lower limit switch 421) is opened, thereby breaking the circuit described above, deenergizing coil 49b, causing the switches of control means 38b to open to deenergize the motor I5. This also deenergizes the lower timing relay Mb and after a preestablished interval; say ten'secondsswitch 52b thereof automatically" closes, thereby connecting the coil 49a of the up motor control means across the power lines 39 and 40, through the circuit including suppy main 46;.conductor 43a, closed upper limit switch 42a, conductor 44a, coil a, conductor 46a; conduit Ma -including the now closed switch 52b; and conductor 48a to the supply main 39.

This causes the'switches 54a, 56a in the up controlrmeans-toclose energizing the starting windings in the motor to drive it in the appropriate directionof rotation to drive the racks upwardly. Subsequently switch a closes to energize the running 1 windings; As the rack moves: upwardly the bottom limit switch ispermitted to close'; The rackthen continuesztoithetop ofthis stroke where the upper limit switchis opened to deenerg-lze the motor as described above. The upper timing relay isdeenergized,-.and after a preestablished period; say ten. seconds, the switch 52athereof closes which again completes the circuit to'energizethe down. control means. Also when the circuit is completed the lower timing relayf 41b isenergized to open its switch. 522). and the rack starts down to repeat the cycle. Because switch 521) is i open the up. control means 38a cannot be energized.

It'wlll be understoodthat various othercireuit arrangements'may be provided according to'the type-0i motor usedin order to achieve substam tially similar results. Thepartlcularform of the invention here described and illustrated in. the accompanying drawings is presented'merely as an example of 'how: the invention may be? applied.

Other forms, embodiments and applicationsof the invention coming within the proper scope of the claims will readily suggest themselvesto those skilled in the art.

What-is claimed is:

11 In adisplay device-for providing'a compare tive visual'indication of at least twoproducts comprising housing meansfor receiving said products to represent a service condition: for the products, carrier means for each of 'said'pro'd'ucts movable between extreme exposed positions spaced from said'housing'means and extreme positions within said housing means representative of'a service conditionfor-the products, actuating means for simultaneously (iil'splacing said carrier means between said extreme positions limit means actuated by the carrier for-terminating the operation ofsaid actuating" means upon-ar rival of said carrier means in either of its extreme positions, timedelaymeans actuated b'y the limit means' for re-initiating said actuating meansa pre-establishedinterval after actuation of said limit means to move said carrier to'theopposite extreme position.

2; In a displaydevice as set' forthin' claim 1 said carrier means including a' telescoping shaft assembly comprising a first movable m'ember-and a second movable member mounted on theffi'rst member for movement relativethereto, and motion amplifyingdriving: connections responsive-t0 movement of saidl first: member to displace. said second member 'for. a: distance: exceeding-f that-.of the first. member. said productiheing; carried;v by saidssecondmemberz 3. In a display device as set forth in claim 1, said housing means comprising a container for each of said products, each container having a lid portion, said actuating means being adapted to raise simultaneously the lid portions of said containers and to move the products of display to the extreme exposed positions, and subsequently to move the products to their extreme concealed positions and, to close the container lids thereupon.

4. In a display device as set forth in claim 1, said actuating means comprising an electric motor, control means for said motor including electrical circuit and switch means for energizing said motor for the appropriate direction of rotation to move the carrier means between the extreme exposed and concealed positions under the control of said limit means and time delay means, said time delay means comprising first and second time delay relays including switch means to close the circuits for energizing the motor.

5. In a display device for providing a comparative visual indication of at least two fabric products, a pair of suit-cases having hinged lid portions, a housing upon which both of said suitcases are supported with lid portions on the top side, said suit-cases being formed with openings in their undersides in alignment with openings in the supporting housing, a pair of rack assemblies mounted in said housing for vertical movement between a lower extreme position beneath the lid portions and an upper extreme position above said 6 lid portions, motive means for driving said racks simultaneously upwardly and simultaneously downwardly between the upper and lower positions, said rack assemblies including rack portions and shaft portions mounted on the rack portions for movement relative thereto, and linkage means responsive to movement of said rack portions for moving said shaft portions relatively to said racks, support means on each of said shafts for carrying fabric display products, means carried by said shafts for engaging and raisin the lids of the suit-cases on the upward stroke thereof, electrical circuit means for energizing said motive means to operate said rack assemblies, limit switch means operated by at least one of said rack assemblies in the respective upper and lower positions for deenergizing said motive means, and time delay relay means including switch means for energizing said motive means a preestablished interval after each extreme position is reached.

RICHARD D. \VELLS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 161,929 Hartis Feb. 13, 1951 2,102,038 Schwartz Dec. 14, 1937 2,222,024 Field Nov. 19, 1940 2,288,822 McCarron July 7, 1942 2,526,823 Mansfield Oct. 24, 1950 2,617,700 Christie et a1. Nov. 11, 1952 

